Navigable vessel



July 7, 1925.

P. F. MACCALLUM NAVIGABLE VESSEL Filed July 7, 1925. 1,545,342

P. F. MACCALLUM NAVIGABLE VESSEL Filed Oct. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1925.

P. F. MACCALLU M NAVIGABLE VESSEL Filed Oct. 1922 3 t e e "M S t e e w 3 Patented July 7, 1925.

JIFUNITELD; STATES PATENT. orrics.

PATRICK F. MACCALLUM,-OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JAMES REID, OF GLASGOW SCOTLAND.

.. ,NAVIGABLIE VESSEL.

Application filed October 25, 1922. Serial- No. 596,818.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, PATRICK FRASER MAC- CALLUM, a subject of the King of Great Britain,";anda resident of Glasgow, Scotland,

have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Navigable Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tovessels and machines such as maybe termed water mobiles l0 designedfor' high speed travel."

InMacc'allums' prior U; S; Patent specifircation No. 830A47 is described a vesselhav- 'ing t ravelling flotation bands which served to sup ortthe'vessel both whemstationary (and w ie'n' travelling.

' The' cons'truction of such vesselsfpr'oved too fragile'forjordinary conditions."

"My present invention consists in a vessel designed for travelling on water at high speed having ing b displacement the total weight of the vesse when at rest, and provided with end drums or wheels, in combination with a flat, or approximately fiat, runnerbelt, or belts, passing over said "drums or wheels, and under an'd ove'r said hull, intermediate antifriction devices bein provided to prevent direct contact of sai belt or belts with the hull. qThe arrangement is such that when 30 the end=drums or wheels are driven the runner belt o r belts, will be continuously delivered from the leading drum or wheel'on .to the water in such manner as to tend to raise the wholevessel on to the surface of the water with a lifting effect proportional to the speed of advance and to thearea of the belt, or'belts, incontact with the supporting-fluid. Furthermore, by causing the .ibelt 'to travel under and. over the hull the frictional resistance incident to the movement of the boat is reduced to a minimum.

My invention furtherv consists in providing the vessel with mearis'design'edto assist in. raising the vessel to, or near, the surface lot thewater, and also in providing-means to protect the runner belt from the action of broken water or debris. V My invention further consists in features of construction to be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. In order that my invention will be properly ,understood I have hereunto appended a central hull capable of sustainthree explanatory sheets of drawings illustrating various embodiments of my invention and whereon:-

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically an elevation of an elementary construction of vessel in accordance with my invention, the middle portion thereof having been omitted.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Fig- 0 me 1. Figure 3 illustrates a View corresponding to Figure 1 of a slightly modifiedconstruo- 'tion, and 'Figure 4 is a section on the line F1gure-3.'--

Figure 5 illustrates a view corresponding "to Figure 1 of a further'modification.

Figure 6 illustrates how a" vessel as illustrated in the previous figures maybe pro-" pelled in an emergency." Figure 7 illustrates a constructional deta1 Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a cross section and part side elevation respectively of the bottom of a vessel and means for guiding and protecting the belt. I I I Figures 10 and 11 illustrate views corresponding to Figures 8 and 9 respectively of another arrangement of guiding and protecting the belt.

Figures 12 and'13 illustrate a further modification for the same purpose. I

Figure 14 illustrates a sectional side elevation and Figure 15 a sectional plan view on the line 1515 Figure 14 of a further construction of vessel in accordance with my invention.

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-46 Figure 14, and Figure 17 is a view ofthe bow of the vessel illustrated in Figures 14 and 15.

Throughout the various figures the same letters are used to designate the same or corresponding parts. i

Referring to the drawings.

a designates the hull, b the end drums or wheels, and c the runner belt. Said belt is about the same width as the bottom of the hull and may be formed of one or more layers of suitable -fabric or thin metal, or a combination of those, with transverse stifieners of timber or light metal section as indicated at d. Transverse blades or stops 0.

may be secured to the belt at spaced distances apart, and further, the belt construction is preferably such,

that while not intended to support the hull by displacement,

its Weight in to prev 'water.

relation to bulk will be such as cut accidental loss by sinking in Further for convenience in assembling and dismantling the belt two or more lengths may bemade in for bolting or claspmg together. v

Propulsion is effected by driving the rear drum from an internal combustion engine or other but as s power unit to carried by the hull.

The elementary vessel described will after starting,

progress by stern wheel propulsion, peed increases, owing to the lifting action of the runner belt and the attached blades r the surface of the,-

whole will gradually rise olling more and more rapidly on to water, the vessel as :1

till the hull is -practically clear of the water and-moving along the inner lower surface of the runner belt, which will, at the same time, have no forward motion in relation to the water supporting it. Skin friction, wave and eddy making resistances and propeller losses }are thus practically eliminated; so; that great speed m ay. be attainedzwith. moderate ipower is capable of a --front:drum of a carried "by adjustable side plates a In both arrangements the rearv drum vertical iadjustment and the horizontal v adjustment.

'.-'3';To;ensure satisfactory performance in :40 rough ,wa ter-i a forward Wash plate or bow piece 7', see Figu may ,be

re 5, may be provided This carried on side extensions 7' from the main hull-sufficiently in, advance: ofthe forward her belt and drum and the drum to allow passage of the runits attachment between the rear of the wash plate or bow piece, the lower rear surface of which may be shaped to over-lap and protectthevleadir edges of the runnerbelt. Also to correct tendency to sink aft. athigh'speeds an after bbuy' or may be or adjustable side side of the hull a. 1

Tendency to sink aft sternvpiece Z oftherskimmer type supported and positioned by fixed pieces Z} carried by the alternatively be corrected by the attachment of a couple of ,skimmer plates or boxes .22, see Figure 6, to

,the after sides of the hull. These skimmer attachments maybe hinged forward and with the; water maybe protected from side .adjusted aft vertically by screw or other dges of the runner belt in contact drift currents, floating debris, and tendency to sag by the provision of longitudinal ,tection 'to' passengers jfan'd v 7 other machinery the spaces below 'the' runner guard plates attached to the sides, or bottom, of the hull in such a way as to embrace the edges of the runner belt without touching them under usualcondit-ions.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 strips m of lignum vitae, or the like, are secured to the bottom of the hull, and on which bear the gun metal or like strips n which in turn are secured to the bands n of waterproof belting which serve to reinforce the edges of the belt 0. At spaced distances apart wheels 0" are secured to the hull of the vessel and which are enclosed by cover plates 0 the lower ed "es, thereof being bent inwardly to protect said bz indsfnf.- i v In the arrangement illustrat edlin Figures 10 and 11 wheels bear on. friction,. ,st rips secured thereto. 1 ,To' the underside of the bel tql clips f 'Q-are secured, at ;spac 'ed, distances apart, a nd which engagewith by the belt" -Inisuch arrangementthe wheels shown. in the'previously described rrange- ,m va're l fel m l dj.

. ,F g i l 7 ai l 'l e f 3.1 1.1mm wherein v,wheelsfiufact" on the belt' (51 the friction: bearing, surface] being P i h-f T O rrow vess s.

of ny of, the ty p'es hereinbefore ,described id y i wi t mddet or r i isengers, cargo, and driving and other" ma- 'the 'vessels may be arrangedftandem with a connectingplatform betweenjthemg" the, strips; or iser- 1 i olthe" hibo bm tfih ivsel, and w whi h, n a e 1 99K? r ea l es tip housed in lthe bones the reinforcing bands-n or onan'ti- A swift -passenger, -craft, or IightWwat'er mobilewith a single hull with fore"a'iidaft drums of moderate diameter "isfindicated in portion .of ,the' runne'r'belt is jsl PPQ tedfat vany desired height aboye the I "or pulleysi t mounted on a .framiii'g, v u'supported from ,the and to afford pi pr pel n nd belt may be closedin tov any desirede iteht.

urthe'r'mo're' in a the case or sm all" I narrow craft as I illustrated, the hull were: forme with a central ,Well' '2 and "widened out as at 'v at any convenient height tofafio rd additionaliinterior space for seating, 'or'i other accommodation. In vessels of the type just descflbedflstabili' yis largely secured while'in'rapid 'motion by'the dynamic action bf thef rotating members, so that narrowfhulls may be safelyused. 5 i H In the event of failureofthe" runner-belt ill magma :33

a portion thereof with attached'blades may be wound on the'rear drum,-as indicated by FigureG, the vessel being then driven a'tfter the manner of the well-known stern wheeler.

Iclaim:

1. A vessel comprising in combination a hull capable of supporting the total load when at rest in water, rotatably mounted members located fore and aft of the hull, an endless flat runner belt passing over said members, means for driving the belt at high speed so that the belt travels on the water and supports the hull, and an'adjustable wash-plate located in front of the rotatable member at the forward end of the hull said belt being provided with means for minimizing the slip between said belt and said Water.

2. A vessel comprising in combination, a

hull capable of supporting the total load when at rest in water, rotatably mounted members located fore and aft of the hull, an endless fiat runner belt passing over said members, means for driving the belt at high speed so that the belt travels on the water and supports the hull, a stern piece of the skimmer type, and side plates for adjustably mounting said stern piece aft of the rotatable member at the after end of the hull.

3. A vessel comprising in combination, a hull capable of supporting the total load when at rest, or moving slowly in water, rotatably mounted members arranged fore and aft of the hull, an endless fiat runner belt passing over said members, guide channels secured to the hull of the vessel and enclosing the edges of the runner belt, reinforcing and anti-friction strips secured inside the runner belt, anti-friction slides of suitable material secured to the hull, and means for driving the belt at a high speed so that the belt travels on the water and supports the hull.

4. A vessel comprising in combination, a hull capable of supporting the total load when at rest, or moving slowly in water, rotatably mounted members arranged fore and aft of the hull, an endless flat runner belt passing over said members guide channels secured to the hull of the vessel and enclosing the edges of the runner belt, reinforcing and anti-friction strips secured in side the runner belt, anti-friction slides of suitable material secured to the hull, intermediate small wheels secured to the hull and arranged to bear on the belt, and means for driving the belt at a high speed so that the belt travels on the water and supports the hull.

5. A vessel comprising in combination a hull capable of supporting the total load when at rest in water, said hull having a narrow bottom and expanded sides to give additional displacement, a frame work erected thereon; adj ustably mou'nted rotatable members located fore' andfflfii: of :the

vessel on said' firame work, a flat: runner belt provided with antifriction means 9 passing over said rotatablyxmounted membersaan means-for driving the belt at:a highzafipfled so that the'belt travelso'n: the watenandisu9- ports the hull on the surface of the water.

6. In combination, a vessel adapted to be positioned in a fluid medium, said vessel comprising a hull, rotatably mounted members positioned fore and aft of said hull, an endless belt passing over said rotatably mounted members, one portion of said belt being positioned in said fluid medium, means secured to said hull for enclosing the edges of saidbelt and for guiding the same, reinforcing antifriction means secured to the inner side of said belt, cooperating antifriction slides secured to said hull, and means for driving said belt at a speed adapted to support said vessel on said fluid medium.

7. In combination, a vessel comprising a hull, members rotatably mounted fore and aft of said hull, an endless belt carried by said members and passing under and over said hull, means secured to said hull for enclosing the edges of said belt, said means being adapted to guide one surface of said belt, and antifriction means for guiding another surface of said belt as it passes underneath said vessel.

. 8. In combination a vessel, a belt for driving said vessel, and means for reinforcing the edges of said belt, said means being adapted to serve also as antifriction means whereby the power necessary to drive said belt may be reduced to a minimum.

9. A vessel comprising a hull, side plates adjustably secured to the ends of said hull, members rotatably mounted on said plates, and adriving belt carried by said rotatable members, whereby on the operation of the same, said vessel may be propelled in a desired direction.

10. A vessel comprising a hull, side plates adjustably secured to the ends of said hull, members rotatably mounted on said plates, and a driving belt carried by said rotatable members, whereby on the operation of the same, said vessel may be propelled in a desired direction, the side plates and the front end of said vessel terminating in a washplate.

11. A vessel comprising a hull, side plates adjustably secured to the front and rear ends thereof, rotatable members secured on said plates, said rotatable members beingadjustable vertically and horizontally, respectively, a driving belt carried by said rotatable members and adapted to be actuated by the same, whereby the vessel may be propelled in a desired direction, and antifriction means for guiding said belt.

12. A driving belt having reinforcing inforcinghstrips of gun metal, said vessel strips of gun metal, said reinforcing strips having cooperating strips of lignum vitae also serving as antifriction means, constituting antifi'iction guiding IIIQZUISQ 13. A vessel comprising a hull having I P. F. MACCALLUM.

5 members rotatably mounted fore and aft of \Vitnesses: v a

the same, and an endless belt carried. by "JOHN SIME,

said rotatable members, said belt having re- CECIL C. GALL. 

